Car-coupling



T. A. BISSELL. GAR' GOUPLING.

(No Model) Patented Mar. 1'7. 1891.

w su u m ilniTn STATES PATnNT Ormes..

THOMAS A. BISSELL, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

cAR-coUPLlNe.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 448,406, dated March 17, 1891.

Application filed December 6,1890. Serial No. 373,755. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, THOMAS A. BISSELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York,have invented new and useful Improvements in Oar-Couplings, of which thefollowin-g is a specification.

rlhis invention relates to that class of carcouplings in which each draw-head is provided with a pivoted coupling-hook having an inward] y-proj ecting arm or knuckle which engages with a gravity-pawl pivoted in a recess in the draw-head when the coupling-hooks of two adjacent cars are coupled together.

The object of my invention is to improve the construction of this class of couplers, whereby the operation of the gravity-pawls in lookin g the hooks is more reliable and certain, and enabling this cla-ss of couplers to be employed on passenger-cars as well as freightcars.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a drawhead provided with my improvement. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section thereof. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section in line a: Fig. 1. Fig. a is a fragmentary vertical section in line U y, Fig- 3- Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A represents the draw-head, which is provided at its front end with a chamber or recess a, in which the coupling mechanism is arranged.

B represents the horizontally swinging coupling-hook pivoted on one side of the recess by a vertical bolt b, passing through lugs c e, projecting forwardly from the side of the draw-head. The hook B is provided with an inwardlyprojecting knuckle or shank B', which is arranged at right angles to the hook. 'lhis knuckle extends into the recess d when the hook is in its normal or coupled position, and is held in place by a horizontally-swinging gravity pawl or catch D, which engages with its free end against the inner end of the knuckle. The pawl D is pivoted in the recess d by a bolt d, passing through the upper and lower walls of said recess, and is also capable of vertical movement thereon.

e e represent inclined ribs formed, respect- CLT ively, on the upper and lower walls of the recess.

ln raising the pawl for the purpose of releasing the knuckle of the hook, its upper face strikes the upper inclined rib, which causes the pawl to swing inwardly, whereby the knuckle or shank of the coupling-hoek is released and the latter allowed to swing forwardly for the purpose of uncoupling the draw-heads. When the pawl descends it strikes the lower inclined rib, which causes the pawl to swing forwardly into the proper position for locking the knuckle of the coupling-hook when the latter is moved into its normal or 'coupled position:

F represents a pivoted rocking arm or lever arranged in a suitable opening f, formed in the top of the draw-headabove the pawl and communicating with the recess a. The rocking arm or lever F ispivoted to a transverse pin f', extending across the opening f, and the gravity-pawl is connected with said lever by a short chain g, the upper end of which is pivoted to the lever on one side of the transverse pivot-pin f. The rocking arm or lever F is provided on one side of its pivot with a shoulder h, which rests against the top of the draw-head when the arm or lever is in its normal position and forms a stop for limiting the rocking movement of the arm or lever. The arm or lever is held in its normal position, with its shoulder h against the top of the draw-head, by a spring-bolt I, arranged in a vertical recess or socket z', formed in the drawhead on the opposite side of the pivot of the rocking arm, and bears with its upper end against a heel or projection j, formed on the rocking arm, as shown in Fig. 3. The outer sidej of the heel j is curved concentric with the pivot of the rocking arm, and the upper end or mouth of the vertical socket t above the head of the spring-bolt is slightly curved inwardly, so that the upper curved face of the heel t-s close to the curved mouth of the socket, whereby dirt, dac., is prevented from entering the socket and interfering with the operation of the spring-bolt. The socket t is preferably formed at its bottom with an opening for the escape of any foreign substance that may have lodged in the socket. The opposite end'of the slot or opening is closed by IvO the shoulder of the rocking arm. Vhen the rocking arm or lever is in its normal position, as shown in Fig. 3, the gravitypawl is also in its normal position, with its outer end engaging against the knuckle of the coupling-hook.

K represents a pull-chain whereby the rocking arm or lever and the pawl are operated for the purpose of releasing the coupling-hook. The pull-chain is pivotally secured with its inner end to the upper end of the rocking arm or lever, and extends laterally from said lever, with its opposite end secured to the lower end of the hand-lever la, which is pivoted to the was connected directly tothe gravity-pawl byl passing the chain downwardly through the slot or opening in the top of the draw-headand connecting its end with the pawl. This caused considerable friction when the pullchainl passed over the top ot' the draw-headin drawing horizontally thereon, and the weight of the chain when slack frequently caused the pawl to become disengaged from the hook and allowed the cars to become uncoupled. By employing a rocking arm or lever to transmit the horizontal pull of the chain K tothe gravitypawl, the friction resulting` from the use of-a side-draftpull-chain is avoided. of the spring-bolt against the rocking arm or lever tends to return the latter to' its normal position, whereby the pull-chain is drawnA inwardly when the cars have been uncoupled. This keeps the pull-chain taut at allv times when not in use, and allows the paWl to descend and resume its properposition preparatory to again interlocking with the couplinghook.

I claim as my inventionl. The combination, with a draw-head hav- The tension ing a recess in its front end and a pivoted coupling-hook, of a gravity-pawl arranged in said recess and adapted to interlock with said hook, a rocking arm or lever pivoted to said draw-head and connected with said pawl, and a pull-chain attached to said lever above its fpivvot,substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the draw-head, having a recess in its front end, a pivoted coupling-,hook and gravity-pawl arranged in said recess and interlocking with said hook, of a rocking arm or lever pivoted in a slot or Aopening formed in the draw-head above said recess, a chain connecting the pawl with said lever, and a stop or shoulder formed on said lever to limit its downward movement in said slot, substantially as set forth.

3: Thel combination, with the draw-head having' arecess in its front end, a pivoted coupling-hook,- and a gravity-pawl arranged in said recess and interlocking with said hook, of-a rocking arm or lever pivoted in said draw-head and connectedr 'with said pawl, a stop'or shoulder formed on said lever, and a spring whereby the rocking lever is held againstsaid stop, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with the draw-head having a recess in its front end and a socket formed in one side ot' said recess, of a pivoted coupling-hook, a gravity-pawl arranged in said-recess and adapted to interlock with saidfhook, ar rocking arm or lever pivoted in a slot or opening formed in the draw-head, a chain connecting` said lever with the gravitypawl, a shoulder formed on one side of the rocki-nglever, a downwardly-projecting heel formed on the opposite side of said lever, and a spring-bolt arranged in said socket and bearing upwardly against the heel ot` the rocking lever, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 26th day of November, iseo.

THOMAS A. BISSELL. Witnesses:

F. C. GEYER, EMIL NEUHART. 

